Heb. 7:4

"Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!"

After Abraham had returned from defeating four kings and rescuing his nephew Lot, he was met and blessed by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. (See Genesis 14:17-20. Melchizedek means “king of righteousness;” king of Salem means “king of peace.”) Abraham then returned the blessing by giving Melchizedek a tenth of everything that was taken from battle. The author of Hebrews declares that Jesus, our “king of righteousness” and “king of peace,” is also our eternal priest “in the order of Melchizedek.” Does He merit at least a tenth of all we possess? Jesus gave His all for us; dare we give anything less for Him?

Lord, help us to give You our all!

Oirat People in China

Cowering under her blankets, six-year-old Bertha Stanley shuddered. Outside, the rain pounded, lightning flashed, and thunder roared! Thunderstorms always made her think of God’s judgment. “What if the Lord comes now? I’ll be left behind!” She thought. “Dear Jesus, please forgive me, and save me.” Suddenly the storm was over, both outside and in her heart. She now belonged to Jesus.

Bertha was born in Kansas in 1889. At college, Bertha became involved in the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. There she met Roy Byram. After graduating and getting married, they both entered medical school in Houston, Texas, moving to Berkeley, California for their internship and the birth of their first daughter, Mertie (now Mrs. Ernie Heimbach).

Then in 1921, the Byrams went as missionaries to northern Korea where Roy started a hospital. It brought them great joy to help the Koreans in their physical pain, but even more touching was when their patients came to know the Lord. Each year country women would come to the Bible school in North Korea where Bertha Byram taught a two month course on the Christian life. To see God working in their lives always excited Bertha.

In 1935, the Byrams moved to Harbin, in Manchuria, China, which was under Japanese rule. They started a new work under the Bible Presbyterian Mission Board, opening a clinic in an area devoid of any hospital or church.